Hadith 4:429

Narrated Malik bin Sasaa:

The Prophet said, "While I was at the House in a state midway between
sleep and wakefulness, (an angel recognized me) as the man lying
between two men. A golden tray full of wisdom and belief was brought
to me and my body was cut open from the throat to the lower part of
the abdomen and then my abdomen was washed with Zam-zam water and (my
heart was) filled with wisdom and belief. Al-Buraq, a white animal,
smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me and I
set out with Gabriel. When I reached the nearest heaven. Gabriel said
to the heaven gate-keeper, 'Open the gate.' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who
is it?' He said, 'Gabriel.' The gate-keeper,' Who is accompanying
you?' Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' The gate-keeper said, 'Has he been
called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' Then it was said, 'He is welcomed. What
a wonderful visit his is!' Then I met Adam and greeted him and he
said, 'You are welcomed O son and a Prophet.' Then we ascended to the
second heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It
was said, 'Who is with you?' He said, 'Muhammad' It was asked, 'Has he
been sent for?' He said, 'Yes.' It was said, 'He is welcomed. What a
wonderful visit his is!" Then I met Jesus and Yahya (John) who said,
'You are welcomed, O brother and a Prophet.' Then we ascended to the
third heaven. It was asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel said, 'Gabriel.' It
was asked, 'Who is with you? Gabriel said, 'Muhammad.' It was asked,
'Has he been sent for?' 'Yes,' said Gabriel. 'He is welcomed. What a
wonderful visit his is!' (The Prophet added:). There I met Joseph and
greeted him, and he replied, 'You are welcomed, O brother and a
Prophet!' Then we ascended to the 4th heaven and again the same
questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There
I met Idris and greeted him. He said, 'You are welcomed O brother and
Prophet.' Then we ascended to the 5th heaven and again the same
questions and answers were exchanged as in previous heavens. there I
met and greeted Aaron who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and a
Prophet". Then we ascended to the 6th heaven and again the same
questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There
I met and greeted Moses who said, 'You are welcomed O brother and. a
Prophet.' When I proceeded on, he started weeping and on being asked
why he was weeping, he said, 'O Lord! Followers of this youth who was
sent after me will enter Paradise in greater number than my
followers.' Then we ascended to the seventh heaven and again the same
questions and answers were exchanged as in the previous heavens. There
I met and greeted Abraham who said, 'You are welcomed o son and a
Prophet.' Then I was shown Al-Bait-al-Ma'mur (i.e. Allah's House). I
asked Gabriel about it and he said, This is Al Bait-ul-Ma'mur where
70,000 angels perform prayers daily and when they leave they never
return to it (but always a fresh batch comes into it daily).' Then I
was shown Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. a tree in the seventh heaven) and I
saw its Nabk fruits which resembled the clay jugs of Hajr (i.e. a town
in Arabia), and its leaves were like the ears of elephants, and four
rivers originated at its root, two of them were apparent and two were
hidden. I asked Gabriel about those rivers and he said, 'The two
hidden rivers are in Paradise, and the apparent ones are the Nile and
the Euphrates.' Then fifty prayers were enjoined on me. I descended
till I met Moses who asked me, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Fifty
prayers have been enjoined on me.' He said, 'I know the people better
than you, because I had the hardest experience to bring Bani Israel to
obedience. Your followers cannot put up with such obligation. So,
return to your Lord and request Him (to reduce the number of prayers.'
I returned and requested Allah (for reduction) and He made it forty. I
returned and (met Moses) and had a similar discussion, and then
returned again to Allah for reduction and He made it thirty, then
twenty, then ten, and then I came to Moses who repeated the same
advice. Ultimately Allah reduced it to five. When I came to Moses
again, he said, 'What have you done?' I said, 'Allah has made it five
only.' He repeated the same advice but I said that I surrendered (to
Allah's Final Order)'" Allah's Apostle was addressed by Allah, "I have
decreed My Obligation and have reduced the burden on My slaves, and I
shall reward a single good deed as if it were ten good deeds."